Thread: Is breaking blades common

Not in my experience. What does the supplier say, can he re-weld them?

Are you tensioning off the gauge in the window or by feel/experience? The blade on my Carbatec 19 inch is way too tight at the gauges recommendation. Are you buying good blades as well?

Hi Ivor,
Have a look where the Blade Broke.
Could have been a bad join.

Originally Posted by Ivor

I have a carbatec 21" bandsaw

So do I and I have never broken a blade on that saw.

The only blade i have used on that saw is a 1" 2tpi tungsten carbide blade from McDiven saws.

It has had a lot of use, slicing tough burls and even resawing 10" gidgee. This blade is 2 years old and going strong. I do all my fine work on the 14" bandsaw.

Its got to be down to one of:

- Operator skill to set up saw

- Operator skill to use saw

- quality of the blade including whether it has reached its "fair wear and tear use by date"


To put it into perspective, I broke two 1/4" and one 1/8" blades on the same night a month ago on my 14" bandsaw. It wasn't the saw that was at fault. The blades were old, maybe six years, They were not my best blades. In fact I put them on because I didn't want to break my better blades on this task. It was my fault they broke. I set them up to fail, But I did get as much as I could out of the blades and they surely didn't owe me anything at that point.

Now I am looking at uses for the steel ...

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

Doug

The guys who own the local hardware store franchise in my village are really disappointed in the BS blades that they sell. I tried the in my little 8" Ryobi. Two blades, soft western red cedar. I did not get 30cm in a straight cut with either = they both broke at the welds.
OTOH, Vermont-American blades are uneven in quality. Had one that cut through thick and thin, hard and soft, for a year. Others might go 10m before they start to wander (dull). New blade fixes that.
So, I think that there are differences in blade qualities. I hope that much more experienced BS users get in here with brand name suggestions. I need to know, too!

Thanks guys. I was using the tension on the guage on the machine not by touch so that in combination of cheap blades could be it.

The blades didn't break at the welds and I wouldn't trust themm now to bother rewelding. I have always used bimetal blades on my 14" so I reckon I will be moving up to those for the 21", I reckon it will be worth the extra $$.

Originally Posted by Ivor

Thanks guys. I was using the tension on the guage on the machine not by touch so that in combination of cheap blades could be it.

The blades didn't break at the welds and I wouldn't trust themm now to bother rewelding. I have always used bimetal blades on my 14" so I reckon I will be moving up to those for the 21", I reckon it will be worth the extra $$.

If you're in Sydney, try Henry Bros and spend the money on a Lenox Woodmaster CT 1 inch. It'll last you for ages and has a very fine kerf to save your stock.

On step ahead of you stevelkneivel, I order a blade from them yesterday arvo

Several probable cause why band saw blades break: incorrect blade, bad weld, band tension too high, guides set up. Why Band Saw Machines Break Band Saw BladesBandSawBlog

I appreciate being off topic, but I'm considering buying a bandsaw around the 21" size, so if you blokes were in the market for a bandsaw today would you still go for the Carbatec 21"? and can they cut through 200mm high timber like Jarrah (old railway sleepers)? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Rod

With the right blade, the right tension and a slow feed it shouldn't be a problem. I assume you are ripping not crosscutting. I would use a chainaw if crosscutting.